The truth is that in the animal kingdom, we cannot judge by appearances. Many species may look dangerous, but in reality, they pose no threat to humans, regardless of their large size and fearsome weapons.
Animals That Seem Dangerous but Are Actually Gentle
In fact, from many perspectives, these creatures are often more afraid of humans than we are of them.
1. Basking Shark
Also known as the basking shark, this giant species is the second largest fish in the world, reaching lengths of up to 12 meters and weighing over 5 tons. Just imagine seeing this creature with its mouth open underwater—wouldn’t it make your heart skip a beat?
However, this species is quite harmless to humans. Unlike predatory sharks, they feed on plankton, small fish, and invertebrates.
2. Millipede
Centipedes (above) and millipedes both have many legs, but their danger levels are vastly different.
People often fear creatures with more than four legs, such as spiders. Besides spiders, centipedes and millipedes are definitely organisms that most people would prefer to avoid.
Both centipedes and millipedes can be quite large. For instance, the African giant millipede can grow up to 30 cm long, live for 5 to 7 years, and have around 400 legs.
But despite their scary appearance, millipedes are quite harmless. They feed on decaying plant matter. Moreover, unlike centipedes that possess fangs and venom, millipedes cannot bite. They can only secrete a chemical for defense, which is usually harmless to humans.
3. Milk Snake
A characteristic of venomous creatures is often their coloration—generally, the more colorful, the more venomous. However, the milk snake defies this rule. Although it closely resembles the highly venomous coral snake, the milk snake is harmless and contains no toxins. That coloration is merely a way for them to “pretend to be dangerous.”
4. Whale Shark
If the basking shark is the second largest fish in the world, what is the largest? It is the whale shark (not to be confused with whales, as whales are mammals). A female whale shark can grow up to 20 meters long, while males are slightly smaller. Despite their enormous size, whale sharks do not attack humans.
5. Whip Scorpion
A creature with an appearance that blends a spider and a scorpion, the whip scorpion understandably frightens many people. However, they are quite shy and rarely aggressive. Notably, this species of scorpion is non-venomous, so it poses no threat to humans. On the contrary, they help control pest populations—especially cockroaches.
6. Giant Salamander
China is home to a giant salamander—the largest amphibian in the world—growing up to 1.8 meters in length.
Despite their dinosaur-like appearance, they only feed on insects, small fish, and small amphibians. In fact, the giant salamander population is threatened by environmental pollution and poaching.
7. Tarantula
Among the most “deceptively scary” creatures, the tarantula surely takes a spot. With its large, hairy body, a tarantula can instill fear in many when encountered.
However, they are quite harmless. Although they are venomous, the venom of a tarantula is very weak, even weaker than that of a bee. They are even kept as pets by many spider enthusiasts. Clearly, they look “powerful,” don’t they?
8. Gharial
They are the gharial, or Indian crocodile, possessing many features similar to other crocodile species except for one: their long and narrow jaws. You can also refer to it as the narrow-snouted crocodile.
Crocodiles are carnivorous predators and can be dangerous to humans due to their large size. However, these narrow-snouted crocodiles are different; despite their jagged teeth, their jaws are very fragile and easily break, making them reluctant to attack anything larger than themselves.
